How Did We Get Here?
The Development of the “Modern” Food System

Session 5

Summary
What are the origins of today’s agricultural system? Learners map the geographic origins of common foods and evaluate how changes in food-related technologies impact their eating habits. Then, learners read short selections about historic points in agriculture and create a timeline of significant global “food events” such as Columbus' voyage, the introduction of synthetic fertilizers, and the “green” revolution.

Guiding Questions

How did today’s food system develop?

What are the key historical events?

How are these historical events related?

What is technology? How has it developed in relation to agriculture?

Big Ideas

Technology related to food has changed over time, and this has impacted the overall food system.

Key points in “food history” include the agricultural revolution, Columbus’ voyage, the Scientific Revolution, the “green revolution,” the development of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer and the “gene revolution.”

Each of these developments created changes in how food was produced and consumed. Each development was also driven by specific assumptions about the meaning of “progress.”

"I wish I could fast forward the camera to see what agriculture would be like in twenty years. There are so many grass-roots movements out there, so many people that want to turn things around . . . so how can the higher power not bring us all together and give us some sort of vision on how to do this. I believe that each of us in doing what we are doing, already are making a difference, a huge difference."